Author: Patricia

I am a marketing and advertising specialist and community designer regarding growing technologies and open source projects. I am focuses on messaging, marketing and determining enhanced business structure to create sustained value for the world’s greatest organizations.

Newsletter creation is an inexpensive and fast way to establish a connection with people, find new prospects and turn potential prospects into paying customers. Creating a newsletter from scratch will involve a number of tasks as well as needed skills. This page will try to sprt these requirenments out for you and provide you with helpful information that will get you started!

Newsletter Format Options

There are several different newsletter formats you can use when creating and distributing your newsletter. They all have their pros and cons and you’ll see them all below.

Text Newsletter

Newsletter creation using text format is the oldest, most reliable and easiest way to do it Many newsletter and ezine owners this format over the others presented. Why so? Text is used to present text and nothingmore. There’s no images, videos, sound or animated gifs jumping all over the message. This will allow the reader to focus more on the message itself than everyting else that is going on.

One of the downsides is just the lack of all the graphical elements relying on text for your newsletter creation as you may go for a more colorful or multimedia approach in your communication channels. If that’s the case, text is not for you.

PDF Format

Choosing pdf format for your newsletter may be a good solution. You can use many different programs, like Microsoft Word, to write and format you rnewsletter and then save it as a pdf file. This file can be sent as an attachement via email or by snailmail after printing. If you send your newsletter issue as an attachment, anyone can open it thanks to the free Adobe acrobat reader.

Opting for pdf as a format will allow you to create multimedia rich newsletters as pdf supports many types of images, sounds and similar.

Remember to create a subject line that will remind individuals you are sending your newsletter, or you risk your PDF being deleted.

HTML

The hottest format on the playingfield is html. It has been said that html is more often blocked by spam filters and security software and this is true. The reason being that html can include hidden information, links, scripts and other possible security risks.

What is good about html though is the absolutely magnificent support it has for including video, images, sounds and pictures. There’s virtually no limit on how flashy and interactive you can make a html newsletter.

WARNING! Do not forget that unless you can include all resources used in your newsletter, in the actual newsletter, the person viewing it must have access to internet while reading the newsletter. This as you most likely have soundfiles, videos and other resources stored at youtube, your own server, Amazon S3 or similar. If the person reading the newsletter lack internet connection, your newsletter can’t reach these sites and download (show/play) the content.

Your Content

Contenwise choosing format may or may not be of importance. If you create format according to your format things will come out correctly automatically. If you have a specific content you would like to display when you are about to create your newsletter, you may have to use the contents need for resources and other requirenments as a startingpoint for what format you choose.

Value of Content

There should always be content that is valuable to readers. It has become increasingly more common to create “throw away” newsletters. A newsletter or list that is created for a specific reason and not long term communication. The content sent to this type of list is seldom created with longevity in mind but rather results. Once the desired goal is reached the list is killed by leaving it or plain and simple mailed to death with offers until no subscribers are left.

If your newsletter is based more in communicating with your subscribers while building a relationsship, content quality and sharing valuable information if a very important factor to consider.

Spamming

Avoid spamming people! If you like most seasoned marketers and pro newsletter listowners use service like aweber for your lists, you’ll be well prepared to avoid span. The big list handling companies have spam detection solutions built into your service, allowing you the check and see how “spammy” your message will be when sent.

This will allow you to revise and correct your content before sending any broadcasts out to your list.

If you’re sending out emails directly from your own computer you’re not as lucky. You will have to rely on third party solutions to check you emails

One of these servicess is called Spam Assassin. Theyhave services you can use to check your newsletter content before you send it out to catch spam phrases and words. For more information visit Spam Assasin.

Word may very well be the most commonly used word processor in the world and using it to create your own newsletter based on purchased or free templates is putting money spent into good use.

Newsletter Templates for Word.

Word has built in support for templates (a special way of saving your file) and courses and training on how to use the word templates can be found online as well as in book form or even training videos.

Free Newsletter Templates for Word Downloads?

Here are some sites where you’ll find free newsletter templates for word, ready to download. I also looked around to find your some help on how to create and use word templates while at it.

To learn more in detail how to work with a template and in this case a stationary, watch this video.

How to Create Templates (Stationery) in Microsoft Word — powered by eHow

Microsoft word alone of part of the office package is an investment but only if you use it after you buy it. Using these resources to help you get started will help you leverage your purchase of word. It’s well worth the time spent to learn a bit more about what can be done with word and how to do it.

Self-publishing is when the author publish any book or media by himself without any help from others. The author also will cover the self publishing costs without any help from others.

Self-publishing is still a small percentage of all published books in the world but the number of published books increase on daily basis.

Business Aspects of Self-Publishing

The biggest difference between self-publishing and the old fashioned way of publishing is the lack of a traditional publisher. Now the author is the one creating, editing, publishing, marketing and in many cases selling the book.

The best part of self-publishing is when using print on demand as no inventory has to be kept and this in turn eliminates all or almost all costs for the author.

Print on Demand

Print on demand is offered by many online companies. If you use for example Amazon Createspace you’ll enjoy all the benefits of print on demand, combined with all the best self publishing benefits. Just imagine what it could do for your book to have it listed on Amazon!

Image source: Wikipedia.org

Self Publishing with Kindle

Using Amazon kindle is a bit different as one can’t call it print on demand. The reason for this is that books sold on kindle are electronic books, made for digital readers (or software in computers and similar).

You can write your own book and publish it for sale on kindle in the same way you would do it on Amazon’s Createspace though.

Publishing with kindle is quite easy and can be done almost for free. If you’re ready to become a publsihed author and start making money from books sold by Amazon, take a look at this easy to follow how to publish on kindle Video course!

Printing and production quality

Formatting for kindle is a bit special as your book will be read on what often are very small screens. My advice is that you read some more detailed instructions on how to format text, page sizes and other important factors before publishing your kindle edition ebook.

When publishing a book using Createspace things are a bit different. There are a number of different page sizes but most of them are page sizes you’re acustomed to from having read books. Even so, some formatting and afterthought is recommended here to.

Newsletters and Self-Publishing

You may wonder what newsletters and self-publishing have in common?

It’s quite easy to find a connection because when you publish a newsletter you end up with a lot of written material. This material is often written with the same or similar theme.

So, when you have enough material, use a word editor and make a single document (ebook) of it and publish it via kindle or createspace!

The newsletter formats described below are the most commonly used today. Newsletters can be produced in a variety of formats. Formats that consists of an executable file (like exe files in windows) seldom is used due to problems with size, possible virus warnings and incompatible operating systems. This leaves us with the choice of text, pdf and html newsletter formats.

Text

This newsletter format is the oldest one but is still one of the most commonly used. Many individuals prefer to send their publications in this format as it normally will reach the recipient looking the same as when you sent it, on all platforms (Pc, Mac, Linux).

Text does not allow for inclusion of things like photos, video & logos.

Why use a text newsletter?

Sending an email (newsletter) in text format instead of word or html format will allow everyone on the internet to read it. No special software or utility will be needed.

However, to really make it work, consider the following.

Make sure you use a mono spaced font. A font where the width of the letter i is the same as the letter w. The letters may look different in width, but if you use a mono spaced (instead of proportional) font, the space each character use, will be the same. This is necessary to be able to use row length row breaks and alignment.

As said above the mono spaced font in your newsletter will allow you to format your newsletter to use for example 65 characters width. This is pretty much the standard number of characters used in a newsletter today.

Also, remember that things like underline, bold, italic, left, center, right and justified are adjustments not allowed in pure text, as they require special formatting.

Use white space to make reading easier. Allow for two or more empty lines between content that is different.

Also, make sure your formatting includes some kind of planning. This will allow you to maintain a similar look for your newsletter in each issue and that makes reading easier for your subscribers.

Tools of the trade

Make sure you use the correct tool to write and format your newsletter. One of the most useful tools on the market is Ziney Pro, the Newsletter Text Editor of choice for many newsletter editors. This program (Windows) has a number of newsletter specific, built in functions, created to help you save time and work smarter. And with the very low price tag, it will pay for itself in no time! Read more about Ziney Pro, The Newsletter Text Editor here.

Spy on other newsletters

Subscribe to newsletters that have many subscribers. They will be of interest to you if nothing else for you to study their ways to format the content. Take notes on how they start their newsletter, table of index, menu and similar.

What type of information they include at the top and at the bottom of each issue.

This will help you decide and start formatting as well as make layout choices easier for you.

PDF

PDF is not a format you work with directly. The normal way to create a pdf file is to first write the content with some kind of editor and then save the content to a pdf file. The good part with the pdf format is that you can add pictures, urls, graphics and much more and still send it to anyone. The PDF format is normally viewed with acrobat read and it can be installed on all platforms.

As PDf supports more glam and glitter you stand much more to gain if you base your PDF newsletter on some kind of templates. The site Pro Ebook Templates has some quite nice ebook templates you can use for your newsletter!

The site will show you how to use a completely free editor when you use the templates and begin creating your own, hot, pdf based newsletters.

HTML

HTML is normally used for web pages and isn’t very easy to handle. A lot of people decides to use HTML as the only newsletter format and begins working with a very complicated template. Normally this ends in disaster and everything changes for something easier. If you’re going to use HTML, make sure you have a good tool for editing HTML. This normally means some kind if web creation tool. Using for example Word is not something I recommend (see Ziney Pro – The Newsletter Text Editor).

One other way of doing it is to use an Autoresponder service like Aweber for your newsletter. Using them will help you a lot as they can handle huge amounts of subscribers. They spend a lot of time making sure your emails reach their destiny and they have both text and html based newsletter options (using both at a time is recommended). Aweber provides you with a great number of high quality HTML newsletter templates you can use free of charge as they come with the account.

To start working with one of these newsletter formats, some free newsletter templates may get you started.

Here’s more detailed information about html newsletter templates that will help you clarify what it is, get free html templates and learn about the differet software tools you can use and how they stack up against each other.

“How to save money and time when writing a newsletter and still produce higher quality content then ever by using the right tools!”

Write faster and better then ever

There are so many things you can use a newsletter software to create.

Newsletter Content.

Ezines.

Autoresponder Messages

Ad Copy.

Killer Sales Material.

SIGs and short ads.

Articles for submission to other newsletters.

Running text for your website.

Mailout content with a mix of all of the above.

Will you sell more than before by using a software like this?

Not really!

Just by using a tool better suited for the work you do, does not mean you will sell more or attract more readers.

But consider this,

What should you do to attract readers, keep them reading, attract buyers, keep them reading long enough to actually make the sell?

You must write in such a way they actually read it!

And how to do this you ask …

This is something you can learn. But learning takes time and resources. So, if you can save time on the tedious work of pure typing and formatting, you could …

Exactly!

You could focus on content and using reference material.

By focusing on the content rather then how to make what you type look ok, your readers will thank you and sales will increase! See how more then 2332 newsletter/ezine editors have solved their formatting blues this year

Peace of mind = better productivity!

When you have a tool helping you to work at peak level, knowing it will do what’s needed to create material with the level of quality you strive for. Your mind will relax and by doing this you brainstorm easier, find new ways faster and become more creative then ever.

Do not miss out on this!

Use the wrong software tool and you will always dread using ti as the results are different each time or the results are completely connected to a lot of hard manual work.

Do the right thing, go the easy way …

Get a software that works for you, not against you and your life quality will increase tenfold!

When I wrote a plan for my e-mail newsletter, developing the newsletter name was a critical part of the planning process.

To develop it, I used a strategic approach. In other words, worked backward from my objectives to produce a newsletter name that would help me achieve those objectives. Of course, you might also consider other methods…

Other Newsletter Naming Methods

For example, the two-column menu method. Take a word from Column A, let’s say the company name, and a word from Column B, perhaps one of the standards like Gazette, or Chronicle, or Times. That gives us a utilitarian newsletter name like The Acme Gazette (assuming Acme is the company name).

Then there are reader contests. They work well for employee newsletters and member newsletters because readers get involved, making them feel they’re part of the newsletter.

Or how about the clever method? Using brainstorming and creative thinking; the outcome a clever play on words or concepts.

And, then there’s the benefits approach, a good tactic for customer newsletters. Take the product name plus a word or phrase that describes its most important benefit, and you’ve got a high-potential newsletter name.

The Strategic Newsletter Name Method

I decided, though, to use the strategic approach, which builds on objectives, and that seemed appropriate since this newsletter would explore the strategic side of organizational communication.

The newsletter has three objectives:

Creating additional streams of revenue by selling ads in the newsletter

Associating my name (Kenth) with the idea of strategic communication.

Let’s start with an easy one, objective 3, which calls for building an association between my name and the concept of strategic communication. So, my last name, at least, should go into the newsletter name.

Second, every newsletter or e-zine name should include some functional information. That way readers get an immediate idea of its content. Objective 3 refers to communication so the word ‘communication’ should get into the title.

That also helps me connect with objective number 1; as you will have noted, the subtitle of the book is Communicating for Results.

But, should it say communication, or more specifically strategic communication? Obviously the latter describes the content more precisely, but, the newsletter will be distributed by e-mail, so shorter is better. Second, the idea of strategic communication is a relatively uncommon one, and might reduce advertising sales (the second objective).

Focusing on objective 2, it helps if the type of medium (in this case a newsletter) is immediately identifiable. But, should I call it a newsletter, or should I call it an e-zine, which refers to an online newsletter or magazine?

I prefer ‘newsletter’ because my target audience is comprised of managers, who spend a limited amount of time online, and may not know what ‘e-zine’ means.

But, the length of the word ‘newsletter’ is an issue, because we want the name to fit in the subject line of an e-mail reader. So instead of ‘newsletter,’ I went with just ‘letter.’ That also adds a degree of personalization, because letter suggests a one-on-one relationship.

Pulling the pieces together I end up with Kenth’s Communication Letter. I think the name satisfies all the objectives, and aptly describes a newsletter that explores how managers can use communication to help achieve their goals.

When you start looking for a newsletter name, think strategically before making a final decision. Not all newsletter names have the same potential.

This exercise in newsletter names creation have been just a demo of a process you can use. Kenth’s Communication Letter doesn’t exist and the name was only created to show the process of how I created it.

Add you Newsletter Name to Templates

Once you have decided on your newsletter name, prepare your autoresponders and newsletter templates by adding your new name in all places where the newsletter name is used.

Not only will the web templates shorten the time it takes to produce the page, it will also in most cases enhance the layout and choise of colors and content.

If you need help (not the normal help, but certified SBI webmasters) with your site, check out SBI’s certified webmasters as they excel not only in knowledge, but roi, dedication and they come verified and tested from helping many SBI owners,

Stop losing time on website design

web templates comes in many shapes, forms and colors. Some are pure html, others have psd file with graphics included and in most will you find attached cascading style sheet files and javascripts for date calculation or time.

Another way of doing it

SBI (Site Build It) from Ken Evoy not only competes with Microsoft on providing hosting solutions for online business people. It does so and much more.

Site Build It is like magic wand put into your hands. Use it according to the instructions and “you will” get traffic.

Check out some case studies and you will understand why Bill Gates isn’t sleeping to well!

See the service from SBI that is beating the living daylights out of Microsofts hosting service!

SBI Certified Webmasters

SBI even have their own certified webmaster ready to help you with any problem and task you might have once you have your own SBI site. Certified webmaster to help you with your web templates or site in general. Or download your own free (pdf) webmasters bussiness course directly from sitesell and read it in your home.

Two different templates types

1. Graphical Layouts

With the term graphical layouts do I refer to web templates made by people skilled in color enhancement, graphical layout, html and other coding.

2. Selling or Profit Pulling templates

Here you have a completely different web template.

These templates are ment to attract, mesmerize, sell and in any way capture the interest of the visitor.

They are in many cases not completely correct according to the color tables, the choices of layout and other elements of the template.

NEW – The All Inclusive Template Package

Amazing package giving you not only 5 high quality web site templates, but html startup guide, “a ton” of easy to use javascripts and the ebook everybody is talking about, “instant PDF ebook Creation” with resell rights included.

Anyone can create a site that sparkles with power by using proven hi quality, Cash Pulling web templates as a base for enhancing your website.

Catch the visitor

When a possible subscriber for your newsletter arrives to your site, is it very important that you catch their interest long enough to have them read at least the main headline and into the text following the headline.

This way will you catch them and bring them into your world. You have to take them by the hand and lead them all the way to the point on your site where you want them to go.

Even with a visually compelling web template, can you not be without the words.

Choose the right words and you may strike it rich.

What words should you use then?

Anyone can create a hypnotic, trance inducing text, pulling the reader into your universe of selling, making them follow your suggestions when you know how to make your words sell. Combine the amazing web templates with the magic you get from following the link above and you will have an unbeatable, success creting web site!

Where to put this pre made web templates?

Put the hot web templates on the wrong server and it will be like trying to put a sea into a cup, it will fail.

To really be prepared for all the visits and visitors you will get, choose a webhost with enough capacity to handle the load.

You probably know already that there are many things to look out for and compare when choosing your webhost and that most of the good things you want and need, costs extra.

Host with your brain, read this … .

Take your time and check you the link above, you will thank me later for telling you!

And be sure to check out what is included in the package as it is beyond what any other hosting company has ever offered before.

You’ll get tools you have only dreamt about, but did not even think existed.

Free School Newsletter Templates Information

Among all the tools used by teachers around the world, school newsletter templats may be the hardest ones to find in your own school. There are many templates used by teachers, grading templates, examn templates, evaluation templates and score templates just to mention some. But the school newsletter template is the odd duck out.

Now add the hard pressed economy of most schools and you see the need teachers have for free school newsletter templates. To make matters worse, many teachers are pressed for time and in a lof of cases, not trained enough in computer and internet usage to work with an online electronic school newsletter.

So what to do?

Download Free School Newsletter Templates

To help you out we’re constantly looking for new school templates and sites allowing you to access them for free or at least for a very low cost. Here’s a site that have free school newsletter templates, assessments, Award certificates, Back to school information, Calendars, Bulleting Board Resources, classroom organizers, election templates, Flyers, Posters, Signs, Holiday Works Sheets, Parent-Teacher Communication, goal setting, student resources, teacher-quote notepads, traffic signs and much more! To visit this amazing site called educationworld.com, click here and to read their reprint rights information, click here.

Optin-Lists

Master The Art of Building Lists

The step from having a list with some subscriber to adding a large number of new subscribers to the list like clockwork, then turning them into purchase hungry readers attacking every email you send you with glowing eyes hoping you will offer them a new amazing product to buy, is a long journey.

Affiliate List Dynamite is a package that can compete with the best out there.

This is a package consisting off software, videos, course material and pre made autoresponder messages that have proven to sell well!

The value for the money is amazing!

You may be a newbie or just starting out and here’s where the Mastery Course comes in!

It’s a 3 step course.

Some examples from module 101!

A killer technique that can enable you to double or even triple your list building results using any of these tenderfoot techniques alone!

How to get TARGETED traffic funneled in from major Search Engines online FREE!

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How to earn decent returns from paid advertising online – I show you how NOT to waste money in lousy advertising PLUS show you how to identify paid advertising revenue that really works!

What it takes to achieve MAXIMUM opt-in rates from your list building campaigns!

Some examples from module 202 …

How to expand your mailing list further thus making it more substantial than ever – I teach you the advanced level techniques of building your mailing list at a fast and furious pace!

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How to use subscribers to make subscribers! This is not an often used technique in list building but can prove to be effective if done correctly and the BEST part is… you don’t have to fork out a dime to do it!

How to use co-registration leads to build your mailing list. This particular area in Internet Marketing is interestingly controversial and well, all hyped up with fluffs. I cut through all the B.S. here and tell it like it is – how it can work for you

and Finally from module 303 …

The three single most TOP notch techniques that you can practice and use to build your mailing list the “guru style”!

How to recruit a massive army of affiliates to do your bidding! This is one of the most popular list building and profit-pulling vehicles as used by the big dogs of Internet Marketing and high-level online entrepreneurs – and I will show you how you, too, can harness this power in YOUR favor!

How to strike Joint Ventures with top level marketers in your niche and get these big hitters to willingly work with you to bring you to the top!

How to monetize your mailing list – pick and choose your cash points and milk them out for profits!

How to instill long term credibility in a “me marketing” style to your mailing list! Your prospects will prefer to look forward to YOUR emails than your competitors that they are subscribed to!

Do yourself a favour and visit the Dynamite List Building site and read the webpage all the way through. You’ll see that there’s no way you can afford to waste time on trial and error compared to having it all handed to you on a silver platter like this.

Building lists filled with information hungry subscribers will be the best thing you’ve ever done, and these ebooks,videos, software and pre made messages will not only show you exactly how to do it, but help you do it!